IMS motorsport

 

Under threat of a very wet weekend in Scotland, we travelled up to Knockhill for the latest instalment of the Championship. Knockhill is just a short drive over the Firth of Forth, about half an hour from Edinburgh.

The circuit is a short (lap time under a minute) trip around a craggy hill with a long straight linking up with several tricky curves and a number of blind brows at which an apex of a corner is sited. As these are invariably approached at high speed, to crest such a brow whilst anticipating a turn, in effect blind, requires commitment. I had never been to Knockhill and obviously have never driven round it - but it looks difficult. It is also undulating, bumpy and abrasive. It proved to be the case that tyre wear would be high.

Initial testing showed that with Matt Nicoll-Jones and Stewart Linn driving we were competitive which was a relief as neither of our drivers had seen the circuit before. As the meeting proper began on Saturday we ended up fastest in our class. The entry for Knockhill was slightly down on the last meeting but GT3 still had a range of very fast Ferrari 430s, three Lamborghinis, an Ascari, several Dodge Vipers an Aston Martin and a Porsche. These cars are all very impressive for their sheer speed and noise. The high pitched Italian cars contrasting with the rumbling Vipers and rasping Astons make for a fantastic harmony.

We were privileged to be racing with the rare Ascari - one of the most desirable cars in the world. All of these cars touch 200mph and all are very expensive, however we heard that the Ascari with its BMW V8 engine would be available for sale at a cool £400.000.

In GT4 we race more accessible cars where the cheapest of all, the Ginetta G50, dominates. Here the slower quieter cars tussle with Aston Martins and in due course a Nissan and a Maserati. Whilst the big cars are memorable for sheer spectacle the nimble GT4 cars prove tricky adversaries in tight corners and of course indulge in their own class war.

Qualifying had us missing pole position in both sessions but still doing well and in good shape for the races. The trick at Knockhill is to find space amongst the traffic in which to produce the best lap without getting in the way of one of the GT3 monsters. Our adversary Rob Austin seemed to manage this a bit better than us.

For race one Matt (second on the grid) started and in his session found that the race, punctuated by some heavy crashes involving GT3 cars, was largely dictated by Safety Car periods and traffic problems. Safety cars are used after crashes to bring the speed down to allow broken cars to be removed from dangerous positions. The field bunches up behind the safety car in race order until the track is clear again at which point another rolling start commences and the race is on again. Safety cars ruin hard won leads, but due to restarts cause bunching and further excitement. At the driver change the pit stop was effected well, and with Stewart at the wheel we finished 2nd to the Rob Austin car, which had received a fortunate break during the safety car period. Due to where the Safety car had picked up the overall leader in effect gave it a near lap advantage in the bunching.

For the second race on Sunday the weather was again chilly although I believe the weather was what passes for Spring in Scotland. The anticipated rain failed to materialise and we again started on slicks with the wet tyres on standby. With Stewart in the car and third on the grid a close race immediately ensued. For lap after lap the Ginettas, with the Aston behind, circulated in close company. Stewart lost a place when being lapped by a quicker GT3 and was complaining on the car-to-pit radio about rear end stability. The minor change made by the team which had given Stewart first place in the warm up wasn't working now. His lap times were superb, but try as he might he could not pass the Rob Austin and RPM cars. After a short debate we brought him in to change over to Matt. Matt held his place as we waited for the rival cars to do their stops. They were both unlucky to suffer technical problems, delaying their exits and giving us second place.

We were still behind the Aston Martin which hadn't yet stopped. When it did pull in we took first place. Matt played out the race confidently but in a now poorly handling Ginetta. In the first round we lost a race in the pits now we won one due to others misfortune. They all count and this was not all luck as when the condition were right we were the fastest GT4 car there.

The usual post race champagne and TV interviews followed and we received notification that we would be welcome to enter the mainly - European FIA GT series - praise indeed!

Due to the inevitable contact on the tight circuit the car looked a bit second hand and will need some repair before it appears again.

We now lead the championship by a clear 8 points over Fulvio Mussi in the RPM Ginetta. Next race is at Rockingham near Corby on 25/26 May.


Peter Smith

Team Principal
IMS Motorsport